Books for Troops shifts focus away from Iraq

By PAUL GRONDAHL, Staff writer

Published 4:56 pm, Saturday, January 14, 2012

CLIFTON PARK — Although the last U.S. combat troops were pulled out of Iraq in December, signaling the end of an eight-year war, Books for Troops has a new approach and is focusing its efforts solely on the 100,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan.

"We were wondering what was going to happen after we pulled out of Iraq. But we're still in business and we're still needed. We won't forget about our troops," said Ellen Keegan, of Clifton Park, founder of a small organization that collects gently used paperbacks and ships them to soldiers in war zones.

"We're as active as we've ever been and our new approach means that we're making more personal shipments and it's a lot more fulfilling for the soldiers and the volunteers," she said. The group is also taking special orders for books and sent a book on Corvettes that was requested.

The group was formed in March 2010 and thousands of donated books soon overflowed Keegan's small garage. A dozen volunteers, who include Boy Scouts and seniors, now work out of office space donated by the Town of Halfmoon. They also were pledged a $12,000 donation from November's grand opening of a new Regal Cinemas in Clifton Park. Part of that money is earmarked for legal fees to file forms to become a not-for-profit corporation.

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They've suspended solicitations for more books at this point, since they have 20 boxes with 35 books apiece available for future shipments. They've also begun adding cookies, brownies and other snack items with the books.

"I've gotten requests from generals in remote outposts in Afghanistan who are very concerned about morale and they find our books and goodies are great for morale," Keegan said. "We've gotten a few letters that say they don't need any more books, but we'll keep sending them out to places they're appreciated."

Keegan and her group are buoyed by thank you notes from Afghanistan, including one from a soldier who described building a bookcase to hold his cherished volumes.

Another wrote: "Knowing people back home are thinking about us puts a smile on our face. We're always afraid we'll be forgotten."